Mark Walport will be next UK government chief scientific adviser, cabinet office announces

Mark Walport, director of the Wellcome Trust, has been appointed to take over as the UK government chief scientific adviser next year, the cabinet office has announced.

Walport will take over from the current chief scientist John Beddington in April 2013. The chief scientific adviser’s role is to advise the prime minister and UK government on scientific and technology matters to inform policy and decision making.

Their input is particularly obvious at times of crisis, including the Icelandic ash cloud in 2010, the swine flu epidemic in 2009, and the foot and mouth outbreaks of 2001 and 2007, but applies across all areas …